Ladder.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

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6 u w 4w UNITE STATES.

Patented May 5, 1903,

LORENZO B. BAKER, OF RAOINE, WISCONSIN.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,259, dated May 5, 1903.

I Application filed August 20, 1902. Serial No. 120,369. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LORENZO 13. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine-and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders and Similar Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to ladders and similar structures, and particularly those trussed or strengthened by a wire strand or strands.

The object of the invention is the produclion of an improved structure of the class mentioned.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a ladder embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmental front elevation of one of the side rails of a ladder, showing my improvements as applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on dotted line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an anchor-block used in the construction of my improved ladder.

In the embodiment herein shown of my invention I have built a ladder having side rails 1 and rungs 2, set in suitable openings in the side rails. The rear edges of the side rails 1 are provided with grooves 3, extendinglengthwise of said rails. In these grooves 3 I secure two strong wires 4, fastening one of said wires to one end of each of the side rails 1. I then support the ladder at its extremities, face downward, and apply a pressure upon the rear edges of the side rails 1, bending the ladder like a bow. Then the middle of the ladder has been depressed su'fficiently, the wires 4 are drawn taut between the ends of the bowed ladder, like their fastenings to the side rails, it is apparent that great additional strength and stiffness is imparted to the ladder by their presence, and to prevent such slipping I have provided a fastening at each end of each side rail 1, which I will next describe.

In the rear edge of each side rail and near the end of the rail I form an anchor-pocket 6, adapted to receive an anchor-block 7, cylindrical in this instance for convenience, though it is clear that said block may be of any desired form. The anchor-block 7 may have a groove 8 extending across its end for the reception of the wire and a similar coinciding groove 9 in its side. The anchor-pocket 6 is of a depthsufficient to contain the anchorblock and is provided with a small opening 10, extending from the bottom of the pocket 6 and at oneside thereof through the side rail 1, communicating at its other end with the groove 3. At a little distance from the opening 10 and toward the end of the ladder therefrom is a'similar opening 11 of a diameter sufficient to receive the 'wire 4, the ends of which wire are drawn over the anchor-block 7, lying in the grooves 8 and '9 thereof, through theopening 10, passing thence along the front edgeof the rail 1 to the opening 11, through this opening into the groove 3, and thence back toward the middle of the ladder, its endbeing secured firmly in said groove with staples or in any other suitable manner. The anchorblock' 7 provides a sufficient bearing-surface, so that the wires are not permitted to slacken by being drawn into the substance of the side rails 1. The form of the anchor-block may be changed to suit particular requirements, though for convenience the cylindrical form herein shown is best in this instance. Where it is necessary to prevent the block from turning, ribs may be added or an irregular form of block adopted.

It is apparent that many slight changes may be resorted to in the general form and arrangement of ,the several parts herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly-fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a ladder or other similarstructu re, in combination, two side rails having pockets in their rear edges near the ends of said rails; an anchor-block for each of said pockets; a truss-wire for each rail, one of which trusswires passes over the anchor-blocks at opposite ends of each rail and is secured to the rail outside of the anchor-blocks.

2. In a ladder or other similar structure, in combination, a side rail havinga pocket therein intermediate its ends and an opening extending through the rail adjacent to said pocket; an anchor-block for said pocket; and a truss-wire -for said rail, said truss-wire passing over said anchor-block and through the opening in said rail and being secured at one of its ends to said rail.

3. In a ladder or other similar structure, in combination, a side rail having a pocket at a little distance from each end thereof and an opening extending from the bottom of each of said pockets through said rail; an anchorblock for each of said pockets; and a truss- Wire passing oversaid anchor-blocks interme- LORENZO B. BAKER.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. HAPP,

B. R. J ONES. 

